Central Queens Y to Host Talk on Polish-Jewish Reconciliation

The Central Queens Y will hold a discussion this month on reconciliation between Jews and Poles following World War II.

Author Louise Steinman will talk about her new book, which covers the topic of Polish-Jewish reconciliation, at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Y, located at 67-09 108th St. in Forest Hills.

An estimated 80 percent of American Jews are of Polish descent and Poland was once home to Europe’s largest Jewish population.

During the Holocaust, a total three million Jews, which is nearly the entire Jewish population of Poland, were killed.

While German-occupied Poland was the site of the largest extermination camps, the nation had previously been the epicenter of European Jewish life for centuries.

Steinman’s book views Polish-Jewish reconciliation through the lens of her own family’s history as well as chronicling a resurgence of interest in Jewish life in Poland, such as cultural festivals and the increasing popularity of klezmer music.

Steinman co-directs the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities at the University of Southern California.

The program is one in a series of events presented by the Hevesi Jewish Heritage Library of the Central Queens Y.

The talk is open to the public, but a $7 donation is suggested.